Trial Information

The Efficacy of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Improving Surgical Eligibility for Lung Resection

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a process that is designed to improve patients' lung function,
muscular conditioning, exercise performance, and overall quality of life.

Study activities include exercise training, patient and family education, and psychosocial
and behavioral counseling provided by a healthcare team.

Rehabilitation plans will vary patient by patient based on the results of the following
tests:

- Blood (1-3 tablespoons) will be drawn for routine tests.

- You will have an electrocardiogram (ECG -- a test that measures the electrical activity
of the heart).

- You will have an X-ray of your chest.

- You will have a Pulmonary Function Test. For this test, you will be asked to breathe
in several different ways while you have a mouthpiece in your mouth to test your lung
function.

Study Visits:

If you choose to take part in this study, you will have 3-4 weeks of pulmonary
rehabilitation. During the 3-4 week period, you will have 9-12 study visits that will last
about 90 minutes each. The following tests and procedures will be performed:

6-Minute Walk Test: To perform the 6-minute walk test, you will walk as far as possible
around cones on a flat indoor course that is about 40 yards long. You will walk at your own
pace and can take breaks at any time. After 6 minutes, the study staff will check the total
distance you have walked. Your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and
breathing rate) will be measured before and after the walk. Your oxygen saturation levels
will be monitored throughout the test. You will wear a small clip on your finger that will
send the oxygen saturation data to a small computer.

Oxygen Consumption Test:

An oxygen consumption study will help the doctor determine how well your heart and lungs
work while you exercise. You will be asked to pedal on a bicycle that does not move, while
wearing a mouthpiece to measure the amount of oxygen you take in. Wires will be placed on
your chest to monitor your heart activity, and a blood pressure cuff will be placed on your
arm to monitor your blood pressure.

The amount of exercise you can do will be measured by increasing the resistance you pedal
against. You should continue pedaling until you become short of breath or too tired to keep
going. You may stop exercising at any time if you become very uncomfortable or experience
dizziness, chest pains, and/or shortness of breath.

During or after the oxygen consumption test, blood (about 2 teaspoons) may be drawn to
measure the amount of oxygen in your blood.

If you live outside of the Houston area, you will be referred to a pulmonary rehabilitation
program in your local area. Any records from the outside pulmonary rehabilitation facility
will be given to the study staff after the study is completed. You will have your follow-up
visits (described below) at M. D. Anderson.

Follow-up Visits:

Your health status will be checked at 1 and 3 months after your last study visit if you do
not have surgery, or 1 and 3 months after your surgery. At these follow-up visits, the
following tests and procedures will be performed:

- You will have a 6-minute walk test, a Pulmonary Function Test, and an Oxygen
Consumption Test.

- You will be asked to fill out a quality-of-life questionnaire that should take about 30
minutes to complete.

- You will be asked how well you are able to perform the normal activities of daily
living (performance status evaluation).

- An echocardiogram will be done on a patient-by patient basis. An echocardiogram uses
sound waves to make pictures of your heart, which helps show how well your heart pumps
blood. You will be asked to lie on your left side while a technician places a probe
with gel on your chest to create images of your heart to determine the function and
size.

Long-term Follow-up:

The research staff may contact you by phone regarding your health status. Patients who have
lung surgery may be contacted by phone or have their medical records reviewed during the
course of 30 days after surgery or during hospitalization for surgery (hospitalization may
last more than 30 days).

This is an investigational study. Using pulmonary rehabilitation to try to improve
patients' lung function is considered experimental. At this time, it is being done in
research only. Up to 75 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at M. D.
Anderson.